Are you thinking about renovating your home? I am sure that you would like to have the project finished on time, on budget and also have the best quality output possible, just the way that you imagined your home would look like. A good contractor can be the thin line between achieving this or failing to. Many homeowners tell of how their homes cost them twice what they had budgeted or how they were left with leaking plumbing pipes when the contractor was done. Here is what to look out for to avoid landing on such a contractor.

1. Get a contractor who specializes in the job that you would like to be done

Nowadays, building contractors are very specialized. There are those that specialize in electrical works or plumbing works; others are experts at laying tiles, professional roof contractors that repair your roof, and others who are just general contractors. As a homeowner requiring renovation works, you might be looking to have just a part of your home changed. Make sure that the contractor that you choose has the expertise specifically for that area. You do not want to hire an electrical subcontractor to replace your kitchen cabinets. For more general jobs, hire a general contractor who can, in turn, get subcontractors for the specialist works.

2. Make sure that the contractor is duly registered and licensed

Working with a quack can be one of the biggest mistakes that you make. You will not only be in trouble with the law but also run the risk of losing money, time and having shoddy work done. Ask the contractor for their up-to-date licenses and registration certificates to make sure that they are registered. You can also confirm the registration with your local body responsible for contractor registration.

3. Check the reviews and references

As with any other business, a good contractor should have glowing reviews from customers that they have served before. Read the online reviews for your prospective contractor, you can check Angie’s List or Yelp and take note of what is said. Also, call up the references that the contractors give you as they bid for the job.

4. Phase your payments

Never pay a contractor all the money upfront. This is a recipe for disaster as they could abandon the project before it is done or even do a shoddy job. Phase the payments in a way that you will pay for only the much that has already been done. Ask the contractor to rectify any parts of the job that you feel are not well done before you can pay him/her the amount due.

Follow the above simple guidelines to ensure that you get the best contractor for the job. A good contractor will make sure that the project is completed on time, within the agreed budget and will also give you a good quality finished product.

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